Kyle Connor has agreed to an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. The extension starts in the 2026-27 season and carries an average annual value of $12 million.
The 28-year-old forward is entering the final year of a seven-year, $49.98 million deal signed in 2019 ($7.14 million average annual value) and would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season. He indicated he wanted to stay in Winnipeg and did not plan to explore the market, with both sides aiming to finalize the new contract before the season.
Kyle Connor’s Impressive Performance
Connor finished seventh in the NHL last season with 97 points and tied for seventh with 41 goals. He led the Jets in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 17 points in 13 games. It was his second 40-goal season (after scoring 47 in 2021-22) and his fourth straight season with at least 30 goals. Since becoming a full-time NHL player in 2017-18, he has scored at least 25 goals in each of his eight seasons, with 282 goals over that span ranking eighth in the league.
Drafted 17th overall by Winnipeg in 2015, Connor has 582 points (284 goals, 298 assists) in 613 regular-season games and 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) in 58 playoff games. His consistency and scoring ability have made him a pivotal player for the Jets, and the new contract reflects the team’s commitment to building around him for the future.
Winnipeg opens the season at home against the Dallas Stars on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. As the team looks to make a significant impact this season, Connor’s performance will be crucial in their pursuit of success in the NHL.